As we’re wrapping up the new year, I thought I’d share a year-end ritual that preps me for success in the new year. First, I start by looking back at the year that’s ending and asking myself a few questions. The key, of course, is to be gentle with myself and what’s over, but also be ruthlessly honest in my evaluation. What went well with my career this year? What were my … [Read more...]
Gifts for the Writers on Your List (or for Yourself…)
If someone on your holiday shopping list is a writer, you know we can be a hard bunch to buy for. After all, we already spend a lot of time online shopping as we procrastinate while headlines loom. ;) So, to give you a little helpful holiday hand, we've put together this list of gifts that should make any writer gleeful. And if you happen to be a writer yourself, well, … [Read more...]
How Copywriters Can Deal With Lazy Clients
Landing clients is your first (and very doable) challenge to build your career as a copywriter. But after that, there are some clients who require more assistance than others. And some who require a lot more assistance. Here’s what to do with the clients who don’t want to hold up their end of the bargain. Most clients understand that if they want good output … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Make Your Copy Boss Hate You
In any job, you want to earn the trust and respect of your boss. But let’s turn that on its head a bit, shall we? We’re going to explore the things copywriters do that make bosses hate them. The easiest tips for making your boss happy with your work are to work hard, stay engaged, and keep learning. But let’s look at it from another angle: What would a copywriter do … [Read more...]
The 5 Things New Copywriters Should NEVER Do
It's hard enough to get started in copywriting without making one of these huge mistakes. And when I say huge, I mean huge: Any one of these is enough to delay your success, if not bring your career to a grinding halt. And what's worse, the vast majority of copywriters will make at least one of these mistakes, if not more. So read on to find out what these mistakes are, … [Read more...]
The Creative Review Myth
Every creative project ends with a creative review … or does it? There’s a lot of confusion around exactly what a creative review accomplishes and what you can expect once it’s done. So let’s clear some things up, shall we? Easily the greatest myth about creatives reviews is that they’re going to be “one and done.” The vast, vast majority of the time, you’ll have multiple … [Read more...]
The Best Copywriting Courses vs. Waste of Time (and Money!)
As soon as you decide you want to learn copywriting, you discover that there are a whole lot of copywriting courses out there. But which ones are good? And which ones are a waste of money? Today's article is all about the five things a copywriting course absolutely must have to be worth your time and money. 1. A Copywriting Course Must Cover All Kinds of Copy There are … [Read more...]
Why Copywriting Matters So Much
I was talking to a young woman who was thinking through her career options. She was good at writing (I’m sure you can relate) and was interested in copywriting. Her big objection to it, though? “Yeah, but I want my job to really mean something.” She had no idea how much she didn’t understand. People tend to think of marketing and sales as bad things; “forcing” people … [Read more...]
Quiz: What Kind of Writer Are You Meant to Be?
In what direction are your natural writing talents meant to take you? Take our quiz now to find out! … [Read more...]
4 Books for Copywriter Job-Seekers
Open up your Amazon wish list! If you’re looking for a job—or, well, think you ever will be again—we’ve compiled a list of books you’ve got to read. Here are four books we'd recommend for someone looking for a new job in copywriting. The Rich Employee by James Altucher James Altucher has made a name for himself with this down-to-earth, tell-it-as-I-see it blog posts, … [Read more...]